Reza Pahlavi, the former Crown Prince of Iran, criticized the United States’ opposition to reviving the constitutional monarchy led by Mohammad Zahir in Afghanistan as a “destructive mistake.”
Speaking at the National Conservatism Conference in Washington on Wednesday, July 10th, Pahlavi argued that America’s imposition of an artificial Western structure led to the collapse of Afghanistan’s government.
Pahlavi highlighted how 70% of the tribal parliament (Loya Jirga) in Afghanistan post-Taliban era advocated for the return of King Zahir Shah due to his symbolic unity among the people, but the U.S. government rejected their national desire and sovereignty.
Referring to the Loya Jirga of 2002, where Hamid Karzai, America’s supported candidate, was elected, Pahlavi criticized some Loya Jirga members, accusing them of pressuring Mohammad Zahir not to nominate himself for the transitional government presidency.
Meanwhile, Satar Serat, a candidate against Karzai during the Bonn Conference, advocated for a parliamentary system and favored restoring the monarchy with European support. In contrast, the United States opposed this approach, preferring a different political structure for Afghanistan.
Serat’s stance underscored a divergence in international perspectives on Afghanistan’s future governance. European allies aligned more closely with his vision while encountering resistance from U.S. preferences for a different governmental model in the post-Taliban era.
According to several reports, Satar Serat initially gained traction against Karzai during the Bonn Conference. However, under pressure from Abdullah Abdullah, the interim government’s foreign minister who had the backing of the United States, Serat was compelled to step aside in favour of Karzai.
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the interim government’s foreign minister, denied claims that the former king withdrew from competing with Karzai due to U.S. pressure.
Pahlavi questioned the Western understanding and imposition of democracy in Afghanistan, criticizing the collapse of governance under a foreign Western structure imposed upon a society with its own traditions and governance methods.
He concluded by stating that America’s imposition of such a system on Afghanistan was a “destructive mistake,” asserting that it neither brought security to the U.S. nor successfully defended its values.
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